The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is stepping up enforcement of its new cattle microchipping and licensing programme after an extremely low uptake from livestock owners, officials say. As of late February 2026, only about 2 % of the city’s estimated 22,875 cattle have been microchipped despite the deadline for compliance looming on March 18. GCC has warned that tougher actions, including penalties and seizure of animals, will be imposed on owners who fail to meet the requirements.
The civic body launched the mandate earlier this year to tackle the persistent stray cattle problem that has caused traffic disruptions and safety concerns across urban areas. So far, around 500 cattle — mostly those already impounded — have been microchipped at municipal cattle facilities in zones including Tiruvottiyur, Anna Nagar and Madhavaram.
To improve compliance, GCC is deploying zonal teams comprising veterinary officers, supervisors and cattle catchers to carry out spot licensing and on-site microchip implantation in neighbourhoods with frequent stray sightings. Officials say the shift to field enforcement reflects frustration over the slow voluntary response from owners.
Some livestock owners have expressed concerns about the microchips’ safety and unclear procedures for licence transfers when cattle change hands, complicating efforts to bring the city’s new regulation into full effect.
News as reported
